Life management apparatus and life management method

ABSTRACT

A fatigue degree input unit inputs a fatigue degree of a user through use of a processing device, and writes an input value of the fatigue degree into a storage device. A recommended duration calculation unit reads the input value of the fatigue degree written by the fatigue degree input unit from the storage device. In accordance with the input value of the fatigue degree read from the storage device, the recommended duration calculation unit calculates a bath duration to be recommended to the user, as a recommended duration, through use of the processing device. A recommended duration informing unit informs the user of the recommended duration calculated by the recommended duration calculation unit, through an output device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application is a continuation application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/074,030, filed on Nov. 7, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,087,446which is based on and claims the benefit of priority from JapanesePatent Application No. 2012-288022, filed in Japan on Dec. 28, 2012, thecontent of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a life management apparatus, a lifemanagement method, and a program.

BACKGROUND ART

There is a method of controlling an indoor temperature based upon asleeping cycle, which is a cycle with respect to the depth of sleep (forexample, refer to Patent Literature 1).

There is a method of estimating a fatigue degree of a person in a roomfrom time that has elapsed since the person started working in the roomand from a detection result on the environmental conditions of the room,and controlling an indoor temperature based upon the estimated fatiguedegree of the person (for example, refer to Patent Literature 2).

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: JP 2006-317074 A

Patent Literature 2: JP 2001-004189 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

For leading a healthy life, it is absolutely necessary to know aphysical load (fatigue) that occurs in the life (activity) of a day andtake a rest (an action to recover from fatigue) in accordance with thephysical load. For example, sleeping hours needed in one day may beshort or long depending upon a fatigue degree of the day.

In the method described in Patent Literature 1, the indoor temperatureis controlled during a person's sleeping hours. However, the duration ofthese sleeping hours is not based upon the consideration of the fatiguedegree.

In the method described in Patent Literature 2, the action to recoverfrom fatigue, such as sleeping, is not even taken into consideration.

An object of the present invention is, for example, to inform a user ofa suitable length of time to take an action to recover from fatigue.

Solution to Problem

A life management apparatus according to one aspect of the presentinvention includes:

a fatigue degree input unit configured to input a fatigue degree of auser before taking an action to recover from fatigue, as a pre-actionfatigue degree, and to write an input value of the pre-action fatiguedegree into a storage device;

a recommended duration calculation unit configured to read the inputvalue of the pre-action fatigue degree written by the fatigue degreeinput unit from the storage device, and to calculate a length of time totake the action to recover from fatigue, to be recommended to the user,as a recommended duration, in accordance with the input value of thepre-action fatigue degree read from the storage device; and

a recommended duration informing unit configured to inform the user ofthe recommended duration calculated by the recommended durationcalculation unit.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention, a length of time totake an action to recover from fatigue, to be recommended to a user, iscalculated in accordance with an input value of a fatigue degree of theuser before taking the action to recover from fatigue, and thereby theuser can be informed of a suitable length of time to take the action torecover from fatigue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will become fully understood from the detaileddescription given hereinafter in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a life managementapparatus according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows an example of a hardware configuration of the lifemanagement apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of operations of the lifemanagement apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a life managementapparatus according to a second embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of operations of the lifemanagement apparatus according to the second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In describing preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings,specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, thedisclosure of the present invention is not intended to be limited to thespecific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that eachspecific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in asimilar manner and achieve a similar result.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter withreference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a life managementapparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the life management apparatus 100 includes afatigue degree input unit 101, a recommended duration calculation unit102, a recommended duration informing unit 103, an actual duration inputunit 104, a sleep duration calculation unit 105, a sleep durationinforming unit 106, a sleep duration input unit 107, a sleep durationevaluation unit 108, and a sleep duration correction unit 109.

The life management apparatus 100 also includes hardware, such as aprocessing device 191, a storage device 192, an input device 193, and anoutput device 194. The hardware is used by each unit of the lifemanagement apparatus 100. For example, the processing device 191 is usedfor computing, processing, reading, writing, etc. of data andinformation in each unit of the life management apparatus 100. Thestorage device 192 is used for storing the data and information. Theinput device 193 is used for inputting the data and information. Theoutput device 194 is used for outputting the data and information.

The fatigue degree input unit 101 inputs a fatigue degree of a userbefore taking a bath, as a pre-action fatigue degree, through the inputdevice 193, and writes the input value of the pre-action fatigue degreeinto the storage device 192.

Taking a bath (e.g., taking a shower or taking a hanshinyoku which means“lower body bathing” in Japanese) is an example of taking an action torecover from fatigue. The present embodiment may be applied to taking ahanshinyoku alone among different ways of taking a bath, instead of allthe ways of taking a bath, or may be applied to taking another action ora combination of taking multiple actions including another action.

The recommended duration calculation unit 102 reads the input value ofthe pre-action fatigue degree written by the fatigue degree input unit101 from the storage device 192. Then, in accordance with the inputvalue of the pre-action fatigue degree read from the storage device 192,the recommended duration calculation unit 102 calculates a bath durationto be recommended to the user, as a recommended duration, through use ofthe processing device 191.

The bath duration to be recommended to the user is the length of time totake a bath, to be recommended to the user.

The recommended duration informing unit 103 informs the user of therecommended duration calculated by the recommended duration calculationunit 102, through the output device 194.

The actual duration input unit 104 inputs an actual bath duration of theuser, as an actual duration, through the input device 193.

The actual bath duration of the user is the length of time actuallytaken by the user to take a bath.

When the actual duration input by the actual duration input unit 104 isshorter than the recommended duration calculated by the recommendedduration calculation unit 102, the sleep duration calculation unit 105calculates a sleep duration to be recommended to the user, in accordancewith the difference between the recommended duration and the actualduration, through use of the processing device 191. When calculating thesleep duration to be recommended to the user, if correction information,that is to be described later, has already been written in the storagedevice 192 by the sleep duration correction unit 109, the sleep durationcalculation unit 105 reads the correction information written by thesleep duration correction unit 109 from the storage device 192. Usingthe read correction information, the sleep duration calculation unit 105calculates (i.e., corrects) the sleep duration to be recommended to theuser, through use of the processing device 191.

The sleep duration to be recommended to the user is the length of timeto sleep, to be recommended to the user.

The sleep duration informing unit 106 informs the user of the sleepduration calculated by the sleep duration calculation unit 105, throughthe output device 194.

The sleep duration input unit 107 inputs an actual sleep duration of theuser through the input device 193.

The actual sleep duration of the user is the length of time actuallytaken by the user to sleep.

The sleep duration evaluation unit 108 evaluates the sleep durationinput by the sleep duration input unit 107 against the sleep durationcalculated by the sleep duration calculation unit 105, through use ofthe processing device 191, and informs the user of the evaluation resultthrough the output device 194.

In addition to the pre-action fatigue degree, the fatigue degree inputunit 101 inputs a fatigue degree of the user after sleeping, as apost-sleep fatigue degree, through the input device 193, and writes theinput value of the post-sleep fatigue degree into the storage device192.

The sleep duration correction unit 109 reads the input value of thepost-sleep fatigue degree written by the fatigue degree input unit 101from the storage device 192. Then, based on the input value of thepost-sleep fatigue degree read from the storage device 192 and thedifference between the sleep duration calculated by the sleep durationcalculation unit 105 and the sleep duration input by the sleep durationinput unit 107, the sleep duration correction unit 109 generatescorrection information for the sleep duration to be calculated by thesleep duration calculation unit 105, through use of the processingdevice 191, and writes the correction information into the storagedevice 192.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a hardware configuration of the lifemanagement apparatus 100.

Referring to FIG. 2, the life management apparatus 100 being a computerincludes hardware devices, such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 901,a keyboard (K/B) 902, a mouse 903, an FDD (Flexible Disk Drive) 904, aCDD (Compact Disc Drive) 905, and a printer 906. These hardware devicesare connected to each other by cables or signal lines. A CRT (CathodeRay Tube) or another display device may be used instead of the LCD 901.A touch panel, a touch pad, a trackball, a pen tablet, or anotherpointing device may be used instead of the mouse 903.

The life management apparatus 100 includes a CPU (Central ProcessingUnit) 911 to execute programs. The CPU 911 is an example of theprocessing device 191. The CPU 911 is connected via a bus 912 to a ROM(Read Only Memory) 913, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 914, acommunication board 915, the LCD 901, the keyboard 902, the mouse 903,the FDD 904, the CDD 905, the printer 906, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive)920, and controls these hardware devices. A flash memory, an opticaldisc drive, a memory card reader/writer, or another storage medium maybe used instead of the HDD 920.

The RAM 914 is an example of a volatile memory. The ROM 913, the FDD904, the CDD 905, and the HDD 920 are examples of a nonvolatile memory.These are examples of the storage device 192. The communication board915, the keyboard 902, the mouse 903, the FDD 904, and the CDD 905 areexamples of the input device 193. The communication board 915, the LCD901, and the printer 906 are examples of the output device 194.

The communication board 915 is connected to a LAN (Local Area Network)or the like. The communication board 915 may be connected not only tothe LAN but also to a WAN (Wide Area Network), such as an IP-VPN(Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network), a wide area LAN and an ATM(Asynchronous Transfer Mode) network, or to the Internet. The LAN, theWAN, and the Internet are examples of a network.

The HDD 920 stores an operating system (OS) 921, a window system 922,programs 923, and files 924. Each program of the programs 923 isexecuted by the CPU 911, the operating system 921, and the window system922. The programs 923 include a program to implement functions eachdescribed as “ . . . unit” in the explanation of the present embodiment.The program is read and executed by the CPU 911. As items of“ . . .file”, “ . . . database”, and “ . . . table, the files 924 include data,information, signal values, variable values, and parameters that aredescribed as “ . . . data”, “ . . . information”, “ . . . ID(identifier)”, “ . . . flag”, or “ . . . result” in the explanation ofthe present embodiment. “ . . . file”, “ . . . database”, and “ . . .table” are stored in a storage medium, such as the RAM 914 and the HDD920. The data, the information, the signal values, the variable values,and the parameters stored in the storage medium, such as the RAM 914 andthe HDD 920 are read into a main memory or a cache memory by the CPU 911via a read/write circuit, and used for processing (operations) of theCPU 911, such as extraction, search, reference, comparison, computation,calculation, control, output, printing, and displaying. During theprocessing of the CPU 911, such as extraction, search, reference,comparison, computation, calculation, control, output, printing, anddisplaying, the data, the information, the signal values, the variablevalues, and the parameters are temporarily stored in the main memory,the cache memory, or a buffer memory.

Arrows shown in block diagrams or flowcharts used for explaining thepresent embodiment mainly indicate input/output of data or signals. Thedata or signals are stored in a memory such as the RAM 914, in aflexible disk (FD) of the FDD 904, in a compact disc (CD) of the CDD905, in a magnetic disk of the HDD 920, in an optical disc, in a DVD(Digital Versatile Disc) or in another storage medium. Further, the dataor signals are transmitted through the bus 912, the signal lines, thecables, or another transmission medium.

What is described as “ . . . unit” in the explanation of the presentembodiment may be “ . . . circuit”, “ . . . device”, or “ . . .equipment”, or may be “ . . . step”, “ . . . process”, “ . . .procedure”, or “ . . . processing.” That is, what is described as “ . .. unit” may be implemented by firmware stored in the ROM 913.Alternatively, what is described as “ . . . unit” may be implementedeither by software alone or hardware alone, such as an element, adevice, a substrate, or a wiring line. Alternatively, what is describedas “ . . . unit” may be implemented by a combination of software andhardware, or by a combination of software, hardware, and firmware.Firmware and software are stored, as programs, in the storage medium,such as the flexible disk, the compact disc, the magnetic disk, theoptical disc, and the DVD. The programs are read and executed by the CPU911. That is, the programs cause the computer to function as “ . . .unit” described in the explanation of the present embodiment.Alternatively, the programs cause the computer to execute a procedure ora method of “ . . . unit” described in the explanation of the presentembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of operations of the lifemanagement apparatus 100 (i.e., a life management method according tothe present embodiment, or processing procedures of a program accordingto the present embodiment).

In the example of FIG. 3, it is assumed that the life managementapparatus 100 is installed in a house of a user U1. The user U1 is anexample of a user.

In Step S101, the fatigue degree input unit 101 inputs a pre-actionfatigue degree of the user U1 through the input device 193 by one ormore methods described below.

-   (1) The user U1, when returning home after going out (e.g., going to    work), manually inputs a fatigue degree (e.g., a five level    evaluation) of that time into a mobile terminal. When the user U1    inputs the fatigue degree, the mobile terminal transmits the input    data indicating the fatigue degree to the life management apparatus    100. The fatigue degree input unit 101 receives the input data    transmitted from the mobile terminal. The fatigue degree indicated    by this input data is equivalent to the pre-action fatigue degree of    the user U1.-   (2) The user U1 goes out (e.g., goes to work) wearing shoes in which    a weight sensor with a wireless communication function is embedded.    When the user U1 returns home, a wireless reader installed in the    front door or the like reads measured data of the day from the    weight sensor, and transmits the read measured data to the life    management apparatus 100. The fatigue degree input unit 101 receives    the measured data transmitted from the wireless reader. Using the    received measured data, the fatigue degree input unit 101 calculates    the duration in which the user U1 walked on the day, the duration in    which the user U1 ran on the day, and the like through use of the    processing device 191. Based on the calculation result, the fatigue    degree input unit 101 obtains the pre-action fatigue degree (e.g., a    five level evaluation) of the user U1 by using a conversion formula    defined in advance or a conversion table stored in the storage    device 192 in advance. Alternatively, the fatigue degree input unit    101 accumulates measured data per day in the storage device 192,    calculates a mean value of measured data per unit, such as per week,    per month, and per year, and obtains the pre-action fatigue degree    of the user U1 in accordance with the difference between the mean    value of measured data and the measured data of the day. The    pre-action fatigue degree of the user U1 is, for example, a five    level evaluation being Fatigue Degree “1” or “2” if the mean value    of measured data is greater than the measured data of the day,    Fatigue Degree “3” if there is no difference, and Fatigue Degree “4”    or “5” if the mean value of measured data is less than the measured    data of the day.-   (3) The user U1 goes out (e.g., goes to work) wearing clothes in    which a sweat sensor with a wireless communication function is    embedded. When the user U1 returns home, a wireless reader installed    in the front door or the like reads measured data of the day from    the sweat sensor, and transmits the read measured data to the life    management apparatus 100. The fatigue degree input unit 101 receives    the measured data transmitted from the wireless reader. Using the    received measured data, the fatigue degree input unit 101 calculates    the amount of sweating and the like of the user U1 on the day    through use of the processing device 191. Based on the calculation    result, the fatigue degree input unit 101 obtains the pre-action    fatigue degree (e.g., a five level evaluation) of the user U1 by    using a conversion formula defined in advance or a conversion table    stored in the storage device 192 in advance. Alternatively,    similarly to the example described above, the fatigue degree input    unit 101 obtains the pre-action fatigue degree of the user U1 in    accordance with the difference between a mean value of measured data    and the measured data of the day.-   (4) The user U1 goes out (e.g., goes to work) having a pedometer    with a wireless communication function or having a mobile terminal    with a function equivalent to that of a pedometer. When the user U1    returns home, a wireless reader installed in the front door or the    like reads measured data of the day from the pedometer, and    transmits the read measured data to the life management apparatus    100. Alternatively, the mobile terminal is operated by the user U1    to transmit the same measured data to the life management apparatus    100. The fatigue degree input unit 101 receives the measured data    transmitted from the wireless reader or the mobile terminal. Based    on the number of steps of the user U1 on the day indicated by the    received measured data, the fatigue degree input unit 101 obtains    the pre-action fatigue degree (e.g., a five level evaluation) of the    user U1 by using a conversion formula defined in advance or a    conversion table stored in the storage device 192 in advance.    Alternatively, similarly to the examples described above, the    fatigue degree input unit 101 obtains the pre-action fatigue degree    of the user U1 in accordance with the difference between a mean    value of measured data and the measured data of the day.-   (5) The user U1, when returning home after going out (e.g., going to    work), measures a blood pressure and a cardiac rate by using a blood    pressure meter and a cardiac rate meter each with a wireless    communication function. When the user U1 measures the blood pressure    and the cardiac rate, a wireless reader installed in the house reads    the measured data from the blood pressure meter and the cardiac rate    meter, and transmits the read measured data to the life management    apparatus 100. The fatigue degree input unit 101 receives the    measured data transmitted from the wireless reader. Based on the    blood pressure and the cardiac rate indicated by the received    measured data, the fatigue degree input unit 101 obtains the    pre-action fatigue degree (e.g., a five level evaluation) of the    user U1 by using a conversion formula defined in advance or a    conversion table stored in the storage device 192 in advance.    Alternatively, similarly to the examples described above, the    fatigue degree input unit 101 obtains the pre-action fatigue degree    of the user U1 in accordance with the difference between a mean    value of measured data and the measured data of when the user U1    returns home.-   (6) The indoor position of the user U1 is always detected by an air    conditioner with an infrared sensor or a camera, which is installed    in each room of the house, and recorded as a log. At a predetermined    time in the evening or night, the air conditioner transmits position    data (log) of the user U1 per time on the day to the life management    apparatus 100. The fatigue degree input unit 101 receives the    position data transmitted from the air conditioner. Using the    received position data, the fatigue degree input unit 101 calculates    the amount of activity and the like of the user U1 on the day    through use of the processing device 191. Based on the calculation    result, the fatigue degree input unit 101 obtains the pre-action    fatigue degree (e.g., a five level evaluation) of the user U1 by    using a conversion formula defined in advance or a conversion table    stored in the storage device 192 in advance. Alternatively,    similarly to the examples described above, the fatigue degree input    unit 101 obtains the pre-action fatigue degree of the user U1 in    accordance with the difference between a mean value of amounts of    activity of the user U1 and the amount of activity of the user U1 of    the day.-   (7) Various methods other than the methods (1) to (6) described    above are possible. For example, even with respect to the same    person, since the fatigue degree changes as the person gets older,    data which the fatigue degree input unit 101 acquires by a method    such as the methods (1) to (6) described above can be accumulated in    a storage or a cloud on a network such as the Internet in order to    be used when obtaining the pre-action fatigue degree by a method    such as the methods (2) to (6) described above. The data which the    fatigue degree input unit 101 acquires may not be transmitted from    the mobile terminal or the wireless reader, and instead, for    example, may be directly entered by the user U1 or directly    transmitted from sensors.

The fatigue degree input unit 101 writes the input value of thepre-action fatigue degree obtained by one or more methods describedabove into the storage device 192.

In Step S102, the recommended duration calculation unit 102 reads theinput value of the pre-action fatigue degree written in Step S101, fromthe storage device 192. Then, from the input value of the pre-actionfatigue degree read from the storage device 192, the recommendedduration calculation unit 102 calculates a bath duration to berecommended to the user U1, as a recommended duration R1, by using aconversion formula defined in advance or a conversion table stored inthe storage device 192 in advance, through use of the processing device191.

In Step S103, the recommended duration informing unit 103 informs theuser U1 of the recommended duration R1 calculated in Step S102, bydisplaying it on screen through the output device 194. Thereby, the userU1 is able to know a suitable bath duration of the day.

In Step S104, the actual duration input unit 104 inputs an actual bathduration of the user U1, as an actual duration A1, through the inputdevice 193 by one or more methods described below.

-   (1) A flow amount sensor to measure the amount of hot water supplied    to the bathtub from a hot water storage tank of a hot water supply    system is installed in at least one position of the hot water    storage tank. The actual duration input unit 104 receives measured    data of the amount of hot water directly from the flow amount sensor    or indirectly through communication equipment such as a wireless    reader. Using the received measured data, the actual duration input    unit 104 determines whether the user U1 is taking a bath and    measures the duration in which the user U1 is taking a bath.-   (2) The actual duration input unit 104 receives information    indicating the open/closed state of a bathroom door directly from an    open/closed sensor installed in the bathroom door or indirectly    through communication equipment such as a wireless reader. Based on    the received information, the actual duration input unit 104    determines whether the user U1 is taking a bath and measures the    duration in which the user U1 is taking a bath.-   (3) The actual duration input unit 104 receives information    indicating the on/off state of lighting directly from a lighting    device in the bathroom or indirectly through communication equipment    such as a wireless reader. Based on the received information, the    actual duration input unit 104 determines whether the user U1 is    taking a bath and measures the duration in which the user U1 is    taking a bath.-   (4) The actual duration input unit 104 receives an input of the bath    duration from the user U1 through a touch panel or the like.-   (5) Various methods other than the methods (1) to (4) described    above are possible.

In Step S105, the sleep duration calculation unit 105 compares therecommended duration R1 calculated in Step S102 with the actual durationA1 input in Step S104, through use of the processing device 191. In thecase where the actual duration A1 is shorter than the recommendedduration R1, Step S106 follows. In the case where the actual duration A1is not shorter than the recommended duration R1, the processing ends.

In Step S106, from the difference between the recommended duration R1calculated in Step S102 and the actual duration A1 input in Step S104,the sleep duration calculation unit 105 calculates a sleep duration S1to be recommended to the user U1 by using a conversion formula definedin advance or a conversion table stored in the storage device 192 inadvance, through use of the processing device 191.

In Step S107, the sleep duration calculation unit 105 determines,through use of the processing device 191, whether correction informationhas already been written in the storage device 192 by the sleep durationcorrection unit 109. If correction information has been written, StepS108 follows. If correction information has not been written, Step S109follows.

In Step S108, the sleep duration calculation unit 105 reads thecorrection information written in Step S113 to be described later (e.g.,Step S113 in the processing performed on the previous day) from thestorage device 192. Using the read correction information, the sleepduration calculation unit 105 corrects the sleep duration S1 calculatedin Step S106, through use of the processing device 191.

In Step S109, the sleep duration informing unit 106 informs the user U1of the sleep duration S1 calculated in Step S106 (or, if corrected inStep S108, the corrected sleep duration S1), by displaying it on screenthrough the output device 194. Thereby, the user U1 is able to know asuitable sleep duration of the day.

In Step S110, the sleep duration input unit 107 inputs an actual steepduration B1 of the user U1 through the input device 193 by one or moremethods described below.

-   (1) The sleep duration input unit 107 receives information    indicating whether the weight of the user U1 is detected or not,    directly from a weight sensor installed in the bed in the bedroom or    indirectly through communication equipment such as a wireless    reader. Based on the received information, the sleep duration input    unit 107 determines whether the user U1 is sleeping and measures the    sleep duration B1 of the user U1.-   (2) The sleep duration input unit 107 receives an input of the sleep    duration B1 from the user U1 through a touch panel or the like.-   (3) Various methods other than the methods (1) and (2) described    above are possible.

In Step S111, the sleep duration evaluation unit 108 evaluates the sleepduration B1 input in Step S110 against the sleep duration S1 calculatedin Step S106 (or, if corrected in Step S108, the corrected sleepduration S1), by giving a score, through use of the processing device191. The sleep duration evaluation unit 108 informs the user U1 of thescore by displaying it on screen through the output device 194. Thereby,the user U1 is able to obtain a sleep duration index.

In Step S112, the fatigue degree input unit 101 inputs a post-sleepfatigue degree of the user U1 through the input device 193 by one ormore methods described below.

-   (1) The user U1, when waking up from sleep (when getting out of    bed), manually inputs a fatigue degree (e.g., a five level    evaluation) of that time into a mobile terminal. When the user U1    inputs the fatigue degree, the mobile terminal transmits the input    data indicating the fatigue degree to the life management apparatus    100. The fatigue degree input unit 101 receives the input data    transmitted from the mobile terminal. The fatigue degree indicated    by this input data is equivalent to the post-sleep fatigue degree of    the user U1.-   (2) The user U1, when waking up from sleep (when getting out of    bed), measures a blood pressure and a cardiac rate by using a blood    pressure meter and a cardiac rate meter each with a wireless    communication function. When the user U1 measures the blood pressure    and the cardiac rate, a wireless reader installed in the house reads    the measured data from the blood pressure meter and the cardiac rate    meter, and transmits the read measured data to the life management    apparatus 100. The fatigue degree input unit 101 receives the    measured data transmitted from the wireless reader. Based on the    blood pressure and the cardiac rate indicated by the received    measured data, the fatigue degree input unit 101 obtains the    post-sleep fatigue degree (e.g., a five level evaluation) of the    user U1 by using a conversion formula defined in advance or a    conversion table stored in the storage device 192 in advance.    Alternatively, the fatigue degree input unit 101 accumulates    measured data per day and time in the storage device 192, calculates    a mean value of measured data per unit, such as per day, per week,    per month, and per year, and obtains the post-sleep fatigue degree    of the user U1 in accordance with the difference between the mean    value of measured data and the measured data of when the user U1    gets out of bed.-   (3) Various methods other than the methods (1) and (2) described    above are possible. For example, even with respect to the same    person, since the fatigue degree changes as the person gets older,    data which the fatigue degree input unit 101 acquires by a method    such as the methods (1) and (2) described above can be accumulated    in a storage or a cloud on a network such as the Internet in order    to be used when obtaining the post sleep fatigue degree by a method    such as the method (2) described above. The data which the fatigue    degree input unit 101 acquires may not be transmitted from the    mobile terminal or the wireless reader, and instead, for example,    may be directly entered by the user U1 or directly transmitted from    sensors.

The fatigue degree input unit 101 writes the input value of thepost-sleep fatigue degree obtained by one or more methods describedabove into the storage device 192.

In Step S113, the sleep duration correction unit 109 reads the inputvalue of the post-sleep fatigue degree written in Step S112, from thestorage device 192. Then, if the input value of the post-sleep fatiguedegree read from the storage device 192 is the lower limit of thepost-sleep fatigue degree (i.e., if the user U1 has completely recoveredfrom fatigue), the processing ends. If the input value of the post-sleepfatigue degree read from the storage device 192 is not the lower limitof the post-sleep fatigue degree (i.e., if the user U1 still remainsfatigued), the sleep duration correction unit 109 generates, through useof the processing device 191, correction information (e.g., a correctioncoefficient used in the conversion formula described above or acorrection value applied to the conversion table described above) forthe sleep duration S1 to be calculated in Step S106 (e.g., Step S106 inthe processing to be performed on the following day), based on the inputvalue of the post-sleep fatigue degree and the difference between thesleep duration S1 calculated in Step S106 (or, if corrected in StepS108, the corrected sleep duration S1) and the sleep duration B1 inputin Step S110, and writes the correction information into the storagedevice 192. Then, the processing ends.

Second Embodiment

With respect to a second embodiment, the difference from the firstembodiment will be mainly described.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a life managementapparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the life management apparatus 100 includes thefatigue degree input unit 101, the recommended duration calculation unit102, the recommended duration informing unit 103 and the actual durationinput unit 104 as in the first embodiment, and further includes anactual duration evaluation unit 110 and a recommended durationcorrection unit 111.

The fatigue degree input unit 101 inputs a fatigue degree of a userbefore sleeping, as a pre-action fatigue degree, through the inputdevice 193, and writes the input value of the pre-action fatigue degreeinto the storage device 192.

In the present embodiment, sleeping is an example of taking an action torecover from fatigue. The present embodiment may be applied to taking abath, as in the first embodiment, instead of sleeping, may be applied totaking a hanshinyoku alone among different ways of taking a bath, may beapplied to a combination of taking a bath and sleeping, or may beapplied to taking another action or a combination of taking multipleactions including another action.

The recommended duration calculation unit 102 reads the input value ofthe pre-action fatigue degree written by the fatigue degree input unit101 from the storage device 192. Then, in accordance with the inputvalue of the pre-action fatigue degree read from the storage device 192,the recommended duration calculation unit 102 calculates a sleepduration to be recommended to the user, as a recommended duration,through use of the processing device 191. When calculating therecommended duration, if correction information, that is to be describedlater, has already been written in the storage device 192 by therecommended duration correction unit 111, the recommended durationcalculation unit 102 reads the correction information written by therecommended duration correction unit 111 from the storage device 192.Using the read correction information, the recommended durationcalculation unit 102 calculates (i.e., corrects) the recommendedduration through use of the processing device 191.

As in the first embodiment, the recommended duration informing unit 103informs the user of the recommended duration calculated by therecommended duration calculation unit 102, through the output device194.

The actual duration input unit 104 inputs an actual sleep duration ofthe user, as an actual duration, through the input device 193.

The actual duration evaluation unit 110 evaluates the actual durationinput by the actual duration input unit 104 against the recommendedduration calculated by the recommended duration calculation unit 102,through use of the processing device 191, and informs the user of theevaluation result through the output device 194.

In addition to the pre-action fatigue degree, the fatigue degree inputunit 101 inputs a fatigue degree of the user after sleeping, as apost-action fatigue degree, through the input device 193, and writes theinput value of the post-action fatigue degree into the storage device192.

The recommended duration correction unit 111 reads the input value ofthe post-action fatigue degree written by the fatigue degree input unit101 from the storage device 192. Then, based on the input value of thepost-action fatigue degree read from the storage device 192 and thedifference between the recommended duration calculated by therecommended duration calculation unit 102 and the actual duration inputby the actual duration input unit 104, the recommended durationcorrection unit 111 generates correction information for the recommendedduration to be calculated by the recommended duration calculation unit102, through use of the processing device 191, and writes the correctioninformation into the storage device 192.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of operations of the lifemanagement apparatus 100 (i.e., a life management method according tothe present embodiment, or processing procedures of a program accordingto the present embodiment).

In the example of FIG. 5, it is assumed that the life managementapparatus 100 is installed in a house of a user U2. The user U2 is anexample of a user.

In Step S201, the fatigue degree input unit 101 inputs a pre-actionfatigue degree of the user U2 through the input device 193 by the samemethods as those of Step S101 of FIG. 3, and writes the input value ofthe pre-action fatigue degree into the storage device 192.

In Step S202, the recommended duration calculation unit 102 reads theinput value of the pre-action fatigue degree written in Step S201, fromthe storage device 192. Then, from the input value of the pre-actionfatigue degree read from the storage device 192, the recommendedduration calculation unit 102 calculates a sleep duration to berecommended to the user U2, as a recommended duration R2, by using aconversion formula defined in advance or a conversion table stored inthe storage device 192 in advance, through use of the processing device191. Alternatively, the recommended duration calculation unit 102accumulates data indicating a sleep duration per day, a pre-actionfatigue degree per day, and a post-action fatigue degree per day in thestorage device 192, analyzes a correlation between a sleep duration anda fatigue recovery degree (i.e., the difference between a pre-actionfatigue degree and a post-action fatigue degree), per unit, such as perweek, per month, and per year, and then, based on the analysis result,obtains a sleep duration suitable for the pre-action fatigue degree ofthe user U2 of the day (i.e., a sleep duration which enables the user U2to recover from fatigue).

In Step S203, the recommended duration calculation unit 102 determines,through use of the processing device 191, whether correction informationhas already been written in the storage device 192 by the recommendedduration correction unit 111. If correction information has beenwritten, Step S204 follows. If correction information has not beenwritten, Step S205 follows.

In Step S204, the recommended duration calculation unit 102 reads thecorrection information written in Step S209 to be described later (e.g.,Step S209 in the processing performed on the previous day) from thestorage device 192. Using the read correction information, therecommended duration calculation unit 102 corrects the recommendedduration R2 calculated in Step S202, through use of the processingdevice 191.

In Step S205, the recommended duration informing unit 103 informs theuser U2 of the recommended duration R2 calculated in Step S202 (or, ifcorrected in Step S204, the corrected recommended duration R2), bydisplaying it on screen through the output device 194. Thereby, the userU2 is able to know a suitable sleep duration of the day.

In Step S206, the actual duration input unit 104 inputs an actual sleepduration of the user U2, as an actual duration A2, through the inputdevice 193 by the same methods as those of Step S110 of FIG. 3.

In Step S207, the actual duration evaluation unit 110 evaluates theactual duration A2 input in Step S206 against the recommended durationR2 calculated in Step S202 (or, if corrected in Step S204, the correctedrecommended duration R2), by giving a score, through use of theprocessing device 191. The actual duration evaluation unit 110 informsthe user U2 of the score by displaying it on screen through the outputdevice 194. Thereby, the user U2 is able to obtain a sleep durationindex.

In Step S208, the fatigue degree input unit 101 inputs a post-actionfatigue degree of the user U2 through the input device 193 by the samemethods as those of Step S112 of FIG. 3, and writes the input value ofthe post-action fatigue degree into the storage device 192.

In Step S209, the recommended duration correction unit 111 reads theinput value of the post-action fatigue degree written in Step S208, fromthe storage device 192. Then, if the input value of the post-actionfatigue degree read from the storage device 192 is the lower limit ofthe post-action fatigue degree (i.e., if the user U2 has completelyrecovered from fatigue), the processing ends. If the input value of thepost-action fatigue degree read from the storage device 192 is not thelower limit of the post-action fatigue degree (i.e., if the user U2still remains fatigued), the recommended duration correction unit 111generates, through use of the processing device 191, correctioninformation (e.g., a correction coefficient used in the conversionformula described above or a correction value applied to the conversiontable described above) for the recommended duration R2 to be calculatedin Step S202 (e.g., Step S202 in the processing to be performed on thefollowing day), based on the input value of the post-action fatiguedegree and the difference between the recommended duration R2 calculatedin Step S202 (or, if corrected in Step S204, the corrected recommendedduration R2) and the actual duration A2 input in Step S206, and writesthe correction information into the storage device 192. Then, theprocessing ends.

While embodiments of the present invention have been explained above,two or more of these embodiments may be combined to be implemented.Alternatively, one of these embodiments may be partially implemented, ortwo or more of them may be partially combined to be implemented. Thepresent invention is not limited to these embodiments, and variousmodification can be made as needed.

Numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in lightof the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, withinthe scope of the appended claims, the disclosure of this patentspecification may be practiced otherwise than as specifically describedherein.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   100: life management apparatus-   101: fatigue degree input unit-   102: recommended duration calculation unit-   103: recommended duration informing unit-   104: actual duration input unit-   105: sleep duration calculation unit-   106: sleep duration informing unit-   107: sleep duration input unit-   108: sleep duration evaluation unit-   109: sleep duration correction unit-   110: actual duration evaluation unit-   111: recommended duration correction unit-   191: processing device-   192: storage device-   193: input device-   194: output device-   901: LCD-   902: keyboard-   903: mouse-   904: FDD-   905: CDD-   906: printer-   911: CPU-   912: bus-   913: ROM-   914: RAM-   915: communication board-   920: HDD-   921: operating system-   922: window system-   923: programs-   924: files

The invention claimed is:
 1. A life management apparatus comprising: afatigue degree input unit configured to input a fatigue degree of a userbefore taking an action to recover from fatigue, as a pre-action fatiguedegree, and to write an input value of the pre-action fatigue degreeinto a storage device; a recommended duration calculation unitconfigured to read the input value of the pre-action fatigue degreewritten by the fatigue degree input unit from the storage device, and tocalculate a length of time to take the action to recover from fatigue asa recommended duration in accordance with the input value of thepre-action fatigue degree read from the storage device; and arecommended duration informing unit configured to inform the user of therecommended duration calculated by the recommended duration calculationunit, wherein the fatigue degree input unit inputs a fatigue degree ofthe user after taking the action to recover from fatigue, as apost-action fatigue degree, and writes an input value of the post-actionfatigue degree into the storage device, the life management apparatusfurther comprising: an actual duration input unit configured to input alength of time actually taken by the user to take the action to recoverfrom fatigue, as an actual duration; and a recommended durationcorrection unit configured to read the input value of the post-actionfatigue degree written by the fatigue degree input unit from the storagedevice, to generate correction information for the recommended durationto be calculated by the recommended duration calculation unit based onthe input value of the post-action fatigue degree read from the storagedevice and a difference between the recommended duration calculated bythe recommended duration calculation unit and the actual duration inputby the actual duration input unit, and to write the correctioninformation into the storage device, wherein, when calculating therecommended duration, the recommended duration calculation unit readsthe correction information written by the recommended durationcorrection unit from the storage device, and uses the read correctioninformation.
 2. The life management apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the recommended duration calculation unit calculates a bathduration to be recommended to the user, as the recommended duration. 3.The life management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein therecommended duration calculation unit calculates a sleep duration to berecommended to the user, as the recommended duration.
 4. The lifemanagement apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an actualduration evaluation unit configured to evaluate the actual durationinput by the actual duration input unit against the recommended durationcalculated by the recommended duration calculation unit, and to informthe user of an evaluation result.
 5. A life management methodcomprising: inputting a fatigue degree of a user before taking an actionto recover from fatigue, as a pre-action fatigue degree, and writing aninput value of the pre-action fatigue degree into a storage device, by afatigue degree input unit; reading the input value of the pre-actionfatigue degree written by the fatigue degree input unit from the storagedevice, and calculating a length of time to take the action to recoverfrom fatigue as a recommended duration in accordance with the inputvalue of the pre-action fatigue degree read from the storage device, bya recommended duration calculation unit; and informing the user of therecommended duration calculated by the recommended duration calculationunit, by a recommended duration informing unit, wherein the fatiguedegree input unit inputs a fatigue degree of the user after taking theaction to recover from fatigue, as a post-action fatigue degree, andwrites an input value of the post-action fatigue degree into the storagedevice, the life management method further comprising: inputting alength of time actually taken by the user to take the action to recoverfrom fatigue, as an actual duration, by an actual duration input unit;and reading the input value of the post-action fatigue degree written bythe fatigue degree input unit from the storage device, to generatecorrection information for the recommended duration to be calculated bythe recommended duration calculation unit based on the input value ofthe post-action fatigue degree read from the storage device and adifference between the recommended duration calculated by therecommended duration calculation unit and the actual duration input bythe actual duration input unit, and writing the correction informationinto the storage device, by a recommended duration correction unit,wherein, when calculating the recommended duration, the recommendedduration calculation unit reads the correction information written bythe recommended duration correction unit from the storage device, anduses the read correction information.